Severe Tooth Pain Treatment in Fairfax, VA

Tooth Pain Has a Cause. We Find It and Treat It The Same Day.

Severe Pain Has a Cause

Severe tooth pain almost always points to one of a handful of things: a deep cavity that's reached the nerve, an infection (sometimes with an abscess), a cracked tooth, a lost or failing filling, or pressure from a wisdom tooth or impacted tooth pushing against neighbors. Sometimes the pain comes from grinding, sinus pressure, or recent dental work. The point of your emergency visit is to figure out which one it is, fast, and treat the cause so the pain stops.

Numb. Diagnose. Treat. Same Day.

We numb the area completely before we do anything that could hurt. You'll get an emergency exam with X-rays (and a CT scan if needed) so we can see exactly what's going on under the surface. Once we know the cause, we walk you through what treatment will involve and what it costs, and you decide how you'd like to proceed. Most causes of severe tooth pain can be treated the same day, whether that's a root canal, an extraction, a same-day filling, or draining an infection.

It Might Be Uncomfortable, But You Will Feel Relief.

That's what Dr. Johnson tells patients who ask if it's going to hurt. Once you're numb, treatment itself is mostly pressure rather than pain. Laughing gas and oral sedation are always available if you need extra support. The most common thing we hear after an emergency visit is that the treatment was easier than the days leading up to it.

What does severe tooth pain usually mean?

Severe, throbbing, or constant tooth pain usually means the nerve inside the tooth is involved. Common causes are deep cavities that have reached the pulp, infections or abscesses, cracked teeth, lost fillings exposing the nerve, or significant gum infections. None of these resolve on their own, and most get worse without treatment. The emergency exam is how we figure out which one you've got.

How much does emergency tooth pain treatment cost in Fairfax?

The emergency exam at DentCare Now is $250 and includes your X-rays. Treatment cost depends on what we find. An extraction starts at $390, a same-day root canal starts at $1,447, and a same-day CEREC crown starts at $2,126. You'll get a written estimate before any treatment begins. The full price list is posted at our front desk.

Will it hurt to get treated?

Once you're numb, no. You'll feel pressure but not pain. The numbing itself is brief and the only part that stings. Laughing gas and oral sedation are always available if you need more support, and Dr. Johnson is certified in IV conscious sedation for the rare case where it's needed. Most patients tell us afterward that the treatment was easier than the pain they came in with.

How long until the pain stops after treatment?

It depends on the cause, but most patients feel significant relief by the time they leave the office. Infections and abscesses can take a day or two to fully settle once we've started treatment. A root canal stops nerve pain almost immediately. An extraction relieves pressure pain right away. We'll give you specific aftercare and tell you what to expect.